Chapter 38: Leveraging Power to Intimidate

Today, he was determined to pin a crime on her.

Assistant Magistrate Ruan wore an expression of profound distress. "I know you are short on silver, and I know you do this for your husband's family. But you cannot resort to fraud. If an emergency were delayed because of you, leading to an irreversible outcome, how could you bear the responsibility? One must act with a clear conscience and not commit evil for personal gain. If you dare to endanger lives, then even as your uncle, I must uphold justice over kinship."

His words were righteous, yet every syllable was a dagger aimed at Qin Hanxiao.

Since it concerned his mother’s health, Prefect Zhang dared not be careless. Qin Hanxiao knew that her ability to gain the Prefect's trust hung in the balance of a single thought. Just as she was considering how to prove her innocence, the elderly maid who had escorted them out stepped forward.

"Reporting to you, My Lord: after Physician Qin's acupuncture treatment, the Old Mistress said her head and neck felt much lighter. She has been in good spirits all morning, managed to drink half a bowl of soup at noon, and is now resting."

Her single sentence was worth more than a hundred explanations from Qin Hanxiao. Qin immediately took the opportunity to speak.

"The Old Mistress’s migraines are a chronic condition accumulated over many years. While not as acute as Elder Mistress Huang’s symptoms, they cannot be treated in haste. I administered acupuncture today, and after I return, I must prepare some pills and herbal sachets to supplement the treatment. I will come to perform acupuncture every three days until the symptoms significantly diminish and rarely flare up. However, I cannot guarantee a complete cure that will never recur. If you have doubts, My Lord, you are welcome to invite other physicians to examine her and verify that my words are true."

Assistant Magistrate Ruan had never expected her to actually possess medical skills, let alone produce such immediate results for the Prefect's mother. If she truly held such high expertise, why had he never heard her mention it, nor had his sister? It left him in a very passive position.

In stark contrast, Prefect Zhang was beaming with joy as soon as he heard the maid’s report. "Good, very good." Had he not been mindful that his mother was resting, he would have gone to see her immediately. "Rise. In the future, I must trouble you to take care of my mother’s health."

Only then did Qin Hanxiao’s heart finally settle back into place. "I will do my utmost to attend to the Old Mistress."

Prefect Zhang glanced at Assistant Magistrate Ruan. "Since the misunderstanding is cleared, you, as an elder, should not hold a grudge against a junior." He then turned to Qin Hanxiao. "Come, offer an apology to Assistant Magistrate Ruan. Let the past unpleasantness be behind us. Assistant Magistrate Ruan, grant me the favor of turning the page."

Qin Hanxiao understood that Prefect Zhang was still siding with Ruan, but she was already content with this outcome. Having now established herself in the Prefect’s good graces, Ruan and the Qin family would have to think twice before harming her again.

Assistant Magistrate Ruan agreed grudgingly. After Qin Hanxiao left, he quietly ordered his servant to follow her.

Qin Hanxiao was sharing a carriage with Elder Mistress Huang when they were intercepted by the servant not long after reaching the street.

"I wonder what other instructions the Assistant Magistrate has?"

The servant tilted his chin, looking down at Qin Hanxiao with arrogance. "My master sent me to remind you: be clear about what should and should not be said. Do you think that just because Prefect Zhang protected you once, he will protect you for a lifetime?"

It was a threat, as expected. Yet, other than enduring it, Qin Hanxiao had no other choice. "Go back and tell the Assistant Magistrate that I only wish to live a peaceful life."

The servant snorted contemptuously and turned away, his attitude identical to his master's. Elder Mistress Huang hesitated several times but ultimately said nothing; after all, it was a family matter, and it was not her place to interfere.

Before the carriage reached the Huang residence, it was blocked again. "Physician Qin, please come with me."

Through the curtain, Qin Hanxiao recognized the voice immediately: it was Chang Wanxin. Elder Mistress Huang felt the journey was truly restless, and the tone of Chang’s voice was clearly not that of a good man.

"Who is this? If you don't wish to go, I shall have my servant turn him away."

Qin Hanxiao was truly grateful to Elder Mistress Huang and did not want her to be implicated or frightened. "He is the man who bought me before. He has a patient at home; he is likely asking me to treat them. It is fine, I will go speak with him."

Qin Hanxiao lifted the curtain and poked her head out. "What business does Master Chang have with me?"

Seeing her nonchalant demeanor, Chang Wanxin nearly ground his teeth to dust; naturally, he had neither a pleasant expression nor a kind tone. "Has Physician Qin forgotten that you promised to treat my patient? Why has there been no movement for so many days?"

Over the past few days, he had invited many physicians to treat Young Master Zheng, but they were all helpless, and the wounds were already scarring. Forced by necessity, he had to come to Qin Hanxiao again. Once Young Master Zheng recovered, he would make her pay dearly.

Qin Hanxiao had guessed he would eventually come to her. She could treat Young Master Zheng, but she would not be coerced into it. She would make him beg her.

"How could I forget what I promised? I have simply been busy recently and truly could not spare the time. As you can see, I have just been to the Prefect's residence to treat the Old Mistress, and I have just met with the Prefect himself to report on her condition. Not only today, but for a long time to come, I must go every few days to treat her. Therefore, I must ask Master Chang to wait."

She deliberately slowed her speech, observing his increasingly grim expression as she spoke. "I heard from Wang Dalin that you know Assistant Magistrate Ruan. I saw the Assistant Magistrate at the Prefect's residence just now; if you don't believe me, you are welcome to ask him."

Chang Wanxin’s face shifted through several colors. He had not expected that in just a few short days, she would have already cozied up to the Prefect. That made it much harder to deal with her. More importantly, he could not afford to delay Young Master Zheng’s treatment any longer.

"Are you free now, then?"

She was free, but she would not go for nothing. Qin Hanxiao did not beat around the bush. "I must see Elder Mistress Huang home first. Master Chang can take this time to prepare the consultation fee."

"How much do you want?" Chang Wanxin’s face was ashen. He regretted not selling her off to some distant place the moment he had the chance; otherwise, there would be no such trouble.

"That depends on Master Chang’s sincerity. I will say no more for now; I am in a hurry to get Elder Mistress Huang home, lest the Seventh Young Master Huang worry. We went to visit the Old Mistress and have been gone for half the day."

She was intentionally using Prefect Zhang as a deterrent; only the Prefect could make him fear. So this was the feeling of leveraging power over others—no wonder everyone craved it.

Upon dropping off Elder Mistress Huang, the lady was still worried for her. "If you are truly short on silver, I will give it to you. Do not take such risks."

The Huang family were the only ones besides the Pei family who treated her with genuine kindness. Yet, she could not take their money with a clear conscience just because they were good-hearted.

"Thank you, Elder Mistress. I am not currently short on silver; the consultation fee the Old Mistress just gave me is enough to last for some time. Although he once bought me, he now knows I am treating the Prefect’s mother and dares not act recklessly."

Elder Mistress Huang did not try to persuade her further and pulled her inside. She then had Huang Yuezhi give her the remaining one hundred taels, which Qin Hanxiao accepted with composure this time.

When she stepped out of the Huang residence, Chang Wanxin was already waiting at the gate.